The Jeep Nukizer 715 was one of the most popular vehicles during the ride. It's an all-purpose truck that pays homage to the military-only Kaiser M-715 truck.

It's no surprise that Easter Jeep Safari is a big event for Chrysler and its Jeep brand. For the 2010 EJS event in Moab, Utah, Chrysler showed up with its giant display in front of Walker Drug Store as usual, but the company also brought along some unique vehicles as well - and they weren't just Jeeps. The company displayed vehicles from its Ram line and Jeep line outfitted with Mopar parts available to the general public, building some unique Moparized Jeep and Ram vehicles that they showcased to the general public and media at EJS.

Our customized production vehicles show how Mopar can accessorize Jeep and Ram vehicles that are on the road today while our image vehicles showcase directions we could take in the future, said Pietro Gorlier, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mopar Service, Parts and Customer Care, Chrysler Group LLC. We will gauge reaction to these vehicles. And as we develop our next generation of new Mopar parts and accessories, we will listen closely to this dedicated group of hard-core off-road enthusiasts.

There were a number of Chrysler employees at the event over the weekend, some of which we ran into on the trail (such as our Skyjacker trail ride that you can see here). Wednesday morning was Chrysler's press conference at its display on Main Street, which was followed by a special invitation ride for the media to check out and actually drive some of the "Moparized" vehicles.

The Mopar design team is a small group of dedicated engineers, designers and fabricators who are led by Mark Allen, Chief Designer  Head of Jeep Design Studio, Chrysler Group LLC. The Mopar design team has been customizing production vehicles since 2002 and has introduced nearly 20 concept vehicles to enthusiast crowds at the Moab Jeep Safari. The Mopar off-road engineering team is led by Keith Montone, Manager, Mopar Jeep and Ram Off-road Engineering, Chrysler Group LLC. This experienced group of vehicle engineers is dedicated to providing Jeep and Ram customers with the best off-road parts and accessories. The team has introduced many new parts and played a key role in developing the first aftermarket lift kits available from an automotive manufacturer.

Moab is a proving ground for us to test our vehicles on extreme trails alongside our customers, Allen said. We will take all of the feedback we get from our customers right back to the design studio with us.

Of the vehicles Chrysler displayed at the event, some were "Moparized" vehicles based on production models, while others were unique concept cars that may or may not ever see the light of day.

The Ram Runner is a Ram-based pre-runner with an astonishing 2,500 man hours of work in it.

Mopar Ram RunnerThe Mopar Ram Runner is a Ram pre-runner built for the needs and demands of the off-road racing scene. Desert racer Kent Kroeker of KORE actually built this vehicle and put an amazing 2,500 man hours into its construction. Off-road racing require large tires, plenty of ground clearance, extreme durability and a sophisticated suspension system that can take a beating. The Ram Runner is a deceivingly sophisticated truck that offers a low center of gravity and plenty of wheel travel to soak up rough terrain and provide 14 inches of wheel travel. The steel front fenders and rear bed-sides are replaced with fiberglass that was actually hand-shaped to properly fit the intended dimensions of the vehicles.

Mopar ImMortalThe Mopar ImMortal is a Jeep Wrangler pushed to the max. It features Military-grade portal axle ends that are engineered to mate to Mopars Pro Rock and Power Wagon performance axles and adapted to fit the suspension. The portal axle ends provide 5 inches of lift and contain a 1.5 gear reduction, which when combined with the 4:1 transfer case, the result is a hard-core 100:1 crawl ratio. The design team also stuck a 5.7-liter HEMI in it and then protected it with off-road bumpers and Jeep performance body armor. The unique paint color of the ImMortal is called Viper Snakeskin Green Pearlcoat.

The Ram Power Wagon concept is a pickup truck designed for a number of off-road situations.

Ram PowerWagonFor Mopars Ram Powerwagon image vehicle, the team mated a unique 120-inch wheelbase chassis to a regular cab and step-side box. Axle articulation is greatly increased by utilizing the rear link-coil suspension of the Ram 1500. To gain additional ground clearance, Mopar added a new 4-inch suspension lift and monster 40-inch tires. Though it looks like a giant beast, it actually handles a little more nimbly than one might expect. The team equipped Rock-Slide Engineering-supplied sill guards and custom front and rear bumpers for protection. The spare tire is re-located to the cargo box. For visual impact, the team used a menacing two-tone black-on-white look, inspired by the wild paint schemes of Power Wagons in the 1970s.

The J7 "Stripper" is a stripped-down version without the bells and whistles but yet still fully off-road capable. Photo courtesy of Jeep.

Jeep Wrangler J7The Wrangler J7 "Stripper" is built off of a four-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, as the J7 is designed to have the basic appeal of military-issued vehicles. The Mopar team removed standard content including carpet, fog lamps, alloy wheels and the stereo system before adding front and rear steel bumpers, helicopter hooks, a heavy-duty tailgate and steel wheels. The the J7 was fitted with a Mopar 2-inch suspension lift and 35-inch Mickey Thompson tires. The unique Mustard Plug exterior paint is highlighted with Jeep Wrangler J7 graphics - including "Stripper," which is in regards to its stripped-down setup.

The paint color was actually modeled after a trash can - whatever the inspiration, the group loved it.

Jeep Nukizer 715The Jeep Nukizer 715 was a big hit with the journalists invited to the ride. The vehicle is an all-purpose truck paying homage to the military-only Kaiser M-715 truck. With a military-issue Jeep J8 four-door, the Mopar team converted the vehicle into a pickup body style by adding an aftermarket AEV Brute pickup box built for a TJ. To increase the size of the vehicle, the wheelbase was stretched to 124 inches from 116 inches. Enforcing the brands iconic M-715 is a new front clip produced in carbon fiber that re-creates the characteristic forward slant of the M-715 truck. To top it off, Bestop provided a unique soft top which artfully captures all of the quirks of the original. Drivetrain upgrades include beefy Dynatrac Pro-Rock Dana 44 front and Dana 60 rear axles filled with 5:38 gears and ARB Airlocker differentials. Power is distributed by an Atlas II transfer case spinning custom driveshafts from Tom Woods. To keep the military look, tires are 38-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrains mounted on Hutchinson beadlock wheels.

The powerplant remains a J8-specific 2.8-liter turbo diesel I-4 that has been treated to a re-programmed controller for more boost. Fuel is supplied from a custom Gen-Right tank made specifically for this vehicle and mounts to the rear cross member. For body protection, Mopar added Jeep Wrangler rock rails and off-road bumpers. Other features include a Warn 9.5XP low-profile winch equipped with a Master Pull synthetic winch line, Warn air compressor, Terraflex dual-rate front sway bar and Garmin GPS Map 640 navigation unit.

The Patriot itself may not be a homerun with hard-core Jeep enthusiasts, but the Patriot Extreme really showed the Patriot's abilities as a capable off-road vehicle and made a good impression.

Jeep Patriot ExtremeThe Patriot hasn't been a big hit among hard-core Jeepers, but the Mopar team decided to build a more off-road capable version to see how it would perform. Both the Mopar team and some of the journalists were surprised at its abilities, many noting it's the "Subaru killer" due to its capable off-road prowess combined with its comfort and MPG efficiency.